Middle School Honor Band Clinic at Limestone University
Audition information will be posted by September 1st!
Every Fall over 400 middle school students are nominated from programs throughout the Southeast for the chance to participate in the Middle School Honor Band Clinic at Limestone University. The MSHB Clinic continues to provide wonderful musical experiences for middle school wind and percussionists. By director nomination, participants will rehearse with fantastic music educators and conductors.
Given the sizable participation of the last MSHB clinic, this year we will host 3 honor bands if the numbers continue to expand! We are excited to welcome Mr. Jonathan Valentine and Mr. André North as our guest clinicians this upcoming year! You can read more about these clinicians, as well as our Limestone Faculty clinician, Mr. Spencer Nance, below!
Jonathan Valentine
Jonathan Valentine brings a strong background in music education and extensive experience with band programs. Prior to his appointment at Elizabethton, he was an Assistant Director at James F. Brynes, TL Hanna, and the Director of Bands at Berry Shoals Intermediate school and a middle school Assistant Director at James F. Byrnes High School in South Carolina. Under his leadership, the Berry Shoals 5th and 6th Grade Bands were a consistent winner of the Outstanding Performance Award, a featured performer at the 2014 SCMEA Conference, and a 2019 Division III, high scorer at the National Adjudicator Invitational, held in the Atlanta Symphony Hall. The James F. Byrnes High School rose to become a Bands of America National Semi-finalist and won two 5A State Championships during his tenure. Valentine is a Co-Brass Caption Head of the World Class Drum Corps International Participant Music City Drum and Bugle Corps rising among the ranks of the top drum corps in the world.
He has been a member of the MCDC staff since 2015. Valentine is an active clinician for middle school and high school groups in the marching and concert band mediums. Valentine holds an undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina School of Music. He studied Music Education and Saxophone Performance with Clifford Leaman and a Master of Music Education degree from the University of Florida School of Music.
André North
South Carolina native, André North, is a recent graduate of Penn State University, where he received a Masters of Music in Saxophone Performance. Prior to that, Mr. North received a Bachelor of Music in Education with a Performer’s Certificate from the University of South Carolina. His primary teachers include David Stambler, Clifford Leaman, and Matt Olson as well as conducting with Rebecca Phillips and Andrew Gowan.
As an educator, Mr. North had the privilege of working as Associate Director with the Congaree New Horizon’s Band, a community beginning band for adults over fifty. In giving several successful concerts, Mr. North and the staff helped the ensemble grow from just one band to several ensembles. The group has been featured in both The State newspaper as well as the Columbia Star and continues to grow. Andre North also has experience marching on the field having served as a member of the “Mighty Sound of the Southeast'' Carolina Marching Band for three years. While student teaching, Mr. North worked with the Spring Valley High School Viking Band during which the band was a state finalist in the 2010 South Carolina 4A Finals. During that time, Mr. North also served as Director of Pep Bands for Summit Parkway Middle School. As a musician, Mr. North has several years of playing experience having performed and competed throughout the east coast as well as internationally in Bangkok, Thailand. Professional affiliations include the National Association for Music Education, South Carolina Music Educators Association, Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the North American Saxophone Alliance.
Mr. North is currently the Director of Bands at Hanahan Middle School and Assistant Director of Bands at Hanahan High School. He frequently performs with the Charleston Community Band and can be heard soloing on composer George Fetner’s upcoming album, Beneath the Ice, released Fall 2014.
Spencer Nance
Spencer Nance serves as the Director of Athletic Bands at Limestone University where he directs the Marching Band, Pep Band and Jazz Ensemble, and assists with Wind Ensemble. Prior to his appointment as the Director of Athletic Bands, he spent one year at Limestone as the Assistant Director of Athletic Bands.
Spencer is a native of Spartanburg, SC where he attended Spartanburg High School. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Furman University in 2012 and his master's degree in trumpet performance from the University of Alabama in 2014. Upon graduating from the University of Alabama, he returned to South Carolina and began teaching band. He has taught at Wallace Elementary Middle School, Johnakin Middle School, and most recently Oakbrook Preparatory School.
He has recently released several of his concert band compositions, published with Warming Sun Music. As a performer Spencer has played with the Huntsville (AL) Symphony, Florence Symphony, Poinsett Wind Symphony, Spartanburg Jazz Ensemble, Hot Horns, as well as numerous other chamber and large ensembles.
He currently resides in Spartanburg with his wife, Kelsey and their two dogs, Bentley and Bear.
